Sheet metal fastener



May 21, 1946. H W, KOST 2,460,545

SHEET METAL FASTENER Filed sept. 11, 1944 1 r INVEN TOR. amm M11/Mz Patented May 2l, 1946 UNH-'raso erwiesv PATENT ori-fics Harold W. Kost, Birmingham, Micha asslgnor to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a 4corporation of Michigan Application September 1, 1944, Serial No. 552,257

' on Figure 4;

1 Claim.` (ICL 85-5) This invention relates to fasteners but more particularly to sheet metal fasteners adapted to receive screw threaded members.

An object is to produce a fastener of the above character which can be inserted into an aperture of a supporting panel and securely held in place, the fastener having screw thread engag-l ing means so that a screw can be applied for attaching an object to the supporting panel.

Another object is to produce a fastener which can be inserted into an aperture of a supporting panel and has a plurality of screw thread engaging devices adapted to cooperate with each other securely to retain the screw in place.

A further object is to produce a simple and efficient sheet metal fastener which can be readily secured within an aperture of a supporting member so that the major portion of the fastener is concealed from view, the arrangement being such that the fastener can be quickly snapped into position of use without the necessity of special tools and, when mounted, is adapted for the reception of a screw.

A still further object is to produce a new and improved fastener of springy metal which is adapted to be readily applied in position of use and is formed with integral screw thread engaging means and also lock nut means for militating against the screw coming loose due to jars, shocks or vibrations.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not B formed by stamping from spring sheet metal. The body B has a substantially circular bottom wall I2 which is integrally formed with a screw thread engaging portion I3. The particular contour of the thread engaging portion forms no part of .the present invention and detail description thereof is not considered necessary. Sufce itv to say that the same as illustrated is available on the market under the name Prestole and is substantially as shown and described in the patent to Harold W. Kost No. 2,169,182. Rising upwardly from the edge portions of the bottom wall I2 is a pair of diametrically opposed arms or tongues M which are curvilinear in cross section. Integral withthe outer or upper ends' of the arms i4 are outwardly bent flanges I5, which abut against the outer face of the supporting panel I0 adjacent the edge of the aperture II.

Integral with each of the arms I4 and outwardly therefrom are substantially rectangular fingers I6, which are curvilinear in cross secof limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side elevation partly in cross section of a. fastener mounted in a supporting panel;

Figure 2.is a bottom plan View of the fastener;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section of another form of fastener embodying an additional screw thread engaging means;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the fastener Figure 6 is a side elevation of the fastener shown on Figure 4 viewing another side and showing the screw thread engaging ngers; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View of the fastener shown on Figures 4 to 6 showing a screw applied thereto.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention shown on Figures 1 to 3 comprises a supporting panel It provided with a fastener receiving aperture II which in this instance is round. The fastener comprises a one-piece cup shaped body shown tion and are connected at their lower ends to the respective arm, the fingers inclining upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The free end of each linger I6 is spaced from the adjacent flange I5 a distance approximately equal to the thiol: ness of the supporting panel I0. thereby to impinge againstV the under side of the panel and cooperate with the flange I4 in holding the fastener in position.

Interposed lbetween the tonguesl or arms i4 respectively is a, pair of diametrically opposed tongues Il, which are likewise curvilinear, are integral with the bottom Wall i2 and incline upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The upper endsof the tongues I1 terminate in a plane coinciding with the upper ends of the fingers I6, thereby similarly to impinge against the under side of the supporting panel IIl to cooperate with the flanges la for holding the fastener in place. Manifestly the fingers i6 and the tongues I'l provide four places of contact with the under side of the panel IEB in substantially equidistant- 1y spaced arrangement for holding the fastener against movement outwardly of the panel.

In use, it will be apparent that the fastener is forced into the panel aperture Il, thereby flexing the tongues I1 and fingers I6 inwardly until their free ends pass through the aperture and can then snap outwardly to positions shown on Figures 1 and 3. Substantially at that time the flanges l5 will have engaged the outer surface of the panel I II, so that the cup-shaped body B is thereby firmly and securely in position. to receive strucka screw S for connecting a member to the panel. One advantage of this structure resides in recessing 'the fastener so that a supporting panel need be formed with a single aperture for each fastener required. Thus the outer face of the panel is substantially smooth and uninterrupted. Manifestly when the screw S is tightened, the bottom wall I2 will be drawn toward the supporting panel l I0 so that the fastener is even more securely retained in the desired position.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 7 is in general si'nilar to that above described in that it is formed with a cup-shaped body B', which is formed with a bottom wall l2' provided with a nut-like screw thread engaging part I3'.

. within the panel aperture, the upper portions of the tongues engage the wall of the aperture as shown. The outer end portion i8 of each tongue Il' is bent inwardly into the path of the screw, the free ends being spaced axially from each other in accordance with the pitch of tlie screw thread. Asshown, each end portion I8 is formed with a curvilinear'notch I9 in order effectively to contact the root diameter of the screw.

When a screw S' (Figure 7) is inserted in the fastener, `it first engages the end portions I8 screw threadediy and then the nut portionv I3'.

l like action forcing the tongues I 'I' into intimate binding contact with the wall of the panel aperture. Thus the yscrew S' is engaged at two regions and alock nut effect secured, thereby militating against the screw or fastener S' coming loose.

It is to be understood thatnumerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from thespirit of the invention especially as defined in i the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A fastener comprising a cup-shaped sheet metal body, screw thread engaging means deformed from the body at the inner end thereof, said body having two pairs of tongues, outwardly extending flanges on an opposed pair of said tongues, outwardly inclined integral fingers struck from said last tongues, respectively, the free ends of said lingers being spaced from said iianges a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the supporting panel on which it is intended to mount the fastener, and the other pair of tongues having their free ends terminating substantially in alignlment with the free ends of said fingers for similar panel engagement. Y

HAROLD W. KOST: 

